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Rampant England and New Zealand play out historic ODI draw

20/02/2008

England have kept their hopes in the one-day series against New Zealand alive with a dramatic tie in Napier.

On a day of records being broken, there was nothing to separate the two sides following 100 thrilling overs in the fourth game of the ODI series.

The draw means the five-game series will now be decided in Christchurch on Saturday.

The tourists set the Black Caps an ambitious target of 340 following their turn at the crease, but New Zealand were on course to surpass the required run rate of nearly seven per over up until the game's finale.

Captain Daniel Vettori needed two runs off the final ball to win the game and set up an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, but he only managed a leg-bye after Paul Collingwood missed a throw at the stumps.

Luke Wright had been chosen by Collingwood to bowl out the game, a risky decision – Wright had not bowled in the previous 49 overs – that ultimately paid off after Jamie How (139) was run out.

Jesse Ryder (39) and Brendon McCullum (58) had earlier frustrated the England fielders into a host of mistakes, although the errors paled in comparison to the NZ wicketkeeper dropping opener Alastair Cook on two.

Cook (69) and Phil Mustard (83) carved out a century opening stand in England's innings – England's first since the Twenty20 World Cup - while Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen both made half-centuries.

The captain's half-ton came off just 24 balls, making it the quickest 50 ever by an England player.

England's final tally of 340 was also among their five highest ODI scores.